Say what now? What is a pinkie? An annoying piglet; the runt of the litter. What is a fortress? A fort, but with breastworks. What is a snapdragon? A short-tempered mythical lizard. What is a pantry? Someone attempting to cook for the first time. What is a windchime? Not exactly sure, but it rings a…
From 2014, on being an international jet-setter… Faraway Laughter “Far from home. Tell us about the farthest you’ve ever travelled from home.” There’s a website – of course there is: did you really think there wouldn’t be? – that will tell you the precisely opposite position on the globe to wherever you are in the world. Useful…
This week it’s time to celebrate a July birthday for Song Lyric Sunday. Looking down the list, one true A-lister stood out: (Sir) Michael Philip Jagger, born on 26 July 1943. So he’ll be 83 in a couple of weeks. Eighty three. I’ll just leave that with you for a moment…. Of course my first…
You having me on? What is a heptagon? A disappearing hept. What is a masquerade? A smash and grab attack on a jewellery store. What does the Greek word ‘monos’ mean? Only having one ear. What is a typhoon? A large storage facility for teabags. What is a ninny? Your nan’s sister. How would you…
From 2013, why I shouldn’t be allowed near sharp implements… Nothing to declare Today’s Daily Prompt asks whether I would thrive in a barter-based society. Ha! In a word, no. I have no transferable skills whatsoever, unless you would be willing to pay me to come round and load your dishwasher for you. No, I…
This week, Jim is looking for a tune from The Great American Songbook. Searching the list, there’s a predominance of what I’d categorise as Broadway show tunes: some good, some frankly awful and some that even a grumpy old trapped-in-the-seventies geezer like me absolutely love. And so it happens that this Jerome Kern classic is…
From 2015, a brief look behind the net curtains of suburbia… Too Much Information For one who has turned self-effacement into an art form, ‘doing’ this blog doesn’t come naturally, especially when – inevitably – little autobiographical details emerge from time to time. Nonetheless, today I’m going to lift the veil just a little bit more. Rest assured that absolutely…
This week, the theme for Song Lyric Sunday is about enjoying outdoors: that’s something I do from time to time but, in the opinion of some, not enough. Oddly, the first artiste that sprang to mind was John Denver, who certainly made a decent living singing of the great outdoors. However, I was never a…
Surely not….. Ricochet A failed first attempt at needlework. Paradox The National Ambulance Service. Influence The practice of sending a child up a chimney. Calculus The procedure followed in order to conduct the national census. Imminent ‘Yes, I work in television, don’t you know?’ Fluctuate Dyspeptic regret. Ramshackle A form of restraint required to keep…
From 2014, asking the question ‘Is the world a better place? O tempora! O mores! “21st century citizen. Do you belong in this day and age? If you do, explain why – and if you don’t, when in human history would you rather be?” A bit tricky this one, because there’s good and bad today,…
